Roderick watched the court mage move on to others gathered in the hall and now noticed two more individuals he had not. He took the wooden mask affixed to the woman’s face in first and then rested his eyes on the dire wolf. Not a massive thing but large enough to act as a mount and be much more fearsome than a typical wolf in the wilds. The other was a wisp of a girl who looked some years older than the children, but she carried a staff and looked intently at the king’s mage. Hopefully that meant she was, herself, a mage. Having a mage along, even a youthful one, could prove useful. He made a note to keep an eye on her as well; the wildling and her wolf looked more than capable, however. Already he was falling into old habits of picking out the youngest and greenest looking in the group and deciding to keep a watch on them. This would be different though. They weren’t riding into war, paid from a noble’s coffers. They were searching for answers. The most they’d need an old war horse like him would be for bandits or the like along the rode. Still, bandits could be dangerous in their own right.

As the others began to speak up after being marked as they were, Roderick simply listened to them and what they had to say. The boy was primarily concerned with food, the other warrior with the younger girl getting warmer clothes, the skulker with forming some semblance of a plan and a heading, the younger girl with the other warrior minding his own business, the wildling also with the girl, and the mage girl with the dire wolf. A strange bunch of individuals to be sure. He hadn’t intended on speaking up just yet, but seeing the look in the girl’s eyes brought back memories of his father’s pride and the pride of the younger men he marched with. He shifted his cloak lined with a bear pelt and slipped his gauntlet back on, eyeing the younger girl.

[color=#C15607]"They're right, little one. Pride will kill you in this world,"[/color] he voice was deep and carried the hoarse tone of age, [color=#C15607]”If you refuse to take what is being offered before we set out and succumb to the chill then you pose a risk and bring us a step closer to failure.”[/color]

Having said his piece, Roderick turned to the wiry man in the hood and the boy as he was scooping up his set of cartographer’s tool. 

[color=#C15607]”I agree. Kaafara will be a good place to start,”[/color] Roderick said with a nod then knelt to eye level with the boy, [color=#C15607]”You seem uneasy about returning. Don’t worry. Stay near me.”[/color]

He stood again, his joints popping softly under his armor, and looked to each of the group in turn with a nod.